We recognise our responsibility to promote a learning environment that is safe and healthy for all.  In order to maintain a clean and healthy environment this policy provides guidance for staff and parents as to when children should or should not be in the childcare setting if showing signs of sickness.

 The health and wellbeing of all children is of paramount importance to enable them to be successful learners in everything they do.

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • To ensure that sick children are appropriately and correctly identified.
  • To ensure sick children are cared for appropriately.
  • To protect children and adults from preventable infection.
  • To enable staff and parents to be clear about the requirements and procedures when children are unwell.

Guidance:

Children should not be brought into the childcare setting l if they are displaying signs of illness. 

Parents are responsible for keeping the setting informed about their child’s health.

If parents do bring children to setting and staff feel that they are unfit to be here, parents / carers / emergency contacts will be contacted and requested to come and collect their child and requested not to return their child to the setting until symptom free.

We understand the needs of working parents and do not aim to exclude children from the setting unnecessarily.  However, the decision of the setting is final when requesting that a child is collected due to illness or infection.  Decisions will take into account the needs of the child and those of the other children and staff in school.

Children with infectious or contagious diseases will not be permitted to attend for certain periods.  If staff suspect that a child has an infectious or contagious disease, they will request that parents / carers consult a doctor before returning the child to the setting.

Exclusion period of contagious diseases: (as advised by Public Health England)

Infection or complaint:Exclusion period:
Chicken poxUntil all vesicles have crusted over
German Measles/Measles4 days from the onset
ImpetigoUntil lesions are crusted and healed OR 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
ScabiesChild can return after first treatment
Scarlet feverChild can return 24 hours after starting appropriate treatment
ShinglesOnly if rash is weeping and cannot be covered
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting48 hours from the last bout of diarrhoea or vomiting.
Mumps5 days after onset on swelling
MeningitisUntil recovered
FluUntil recovered

Child becoming unwell at the setting:

  • They will be seen by a qualified first aider as the condition of the child needs to be assessed.  Care plan followed if relevant. This will be done in a kind and caring manner.  The child may be distressed, so it is important to be calm and reassuring. A senior manager will be informed of any sick children.
  • The situation is monitored closely, taking and recording the child’s temperature wherenecessary.
  • The child’s parent/carer is informed of the situation and if the child’s condition does not improve.
  • If necessary and only if the parent/carer has signed the contract agreeing to non‐prescription medicines (Calpol, Ibruprofen, Piriton) being given the medicine will be administered following the guidance on bottle of dosage.
  • If the child’s condition deteriorates further or the child is not getting better a member of staff will contact the parent / carer / emergency contact requesting that the child is collected as soon as possible.
  • Whilst awaiting the arrival of parents, the staff will ensure the comfort of the child, taking appropriate action, which would include seeking medical advice if necessary.
  •  If the child is in danger, the staff will seek medical advice immediately.  Staff will report any worries about a child’s health to the parents / carers immediately. 
  • An illness record will be completed

Symptoms requiring removal of child from school:

  • Fever: Fever is defined as having a temperature of 38C or above in child under 5 (a child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school, that means the child is fever free without the aid of any other fever reducing substance.
  • Fever AND sore throat,
  • Rash
  • Irritabilityor confusion.
  • Diarrhoea: runny, watery, bloody stools, or 2 or more loose stools within last 4 hours.
  • Vomiting: 2 or more times in a 24-hour period. Note: please do not bring your child if they have vomited in the night.
  • Breathing trouble: sore throat, swollen glands, loss of voice, hacking or continuous coughing.
  • Frequent scratching of body or scalp, lice, rash, or any other spots that resemble childhood diseases, including ringworm.
  • Child is irritable, continuously crying, or requires more attention than we can provide without hurting the health, safety or well-being of the other children in our care.

Antibiotics:

If your child has be prescribed antibiotics your child will need to be absent from the setting for the first 24 hours of having taken the antibiotics,  this is in case your child has a reaction to the antibiotic.

Coughs and colds:

Coughs and colds do not normally require the child to be absent from the setting, this however depends on the severity and how the child is able to cope with the setting routine.If the child is unable to participate in the normal routine and regular day the child may be refused admission.   A child who isor appears to be unwell may be refused admission.